Graph Using a Table of Values f(x)=1/x

$f (x) = \frac{1}{x}$

Step 1

Substitute $- 2$ for $x$ and find the result for $y$ .

$y = \frac{1}{- 2}$

Step 2

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$y = - \frac{1}{2}$

Step 3

Substitute $- 1$ for $x$ and find the result for $y$ .

$y = \frac{1}{- 1}$

Step 4

Divide $1$ by $- 1$ .

$y = - 1$

Step 5

Substitute $1$ for $x$ and find the result for $y$ .

$y = \frac{1}{1}$

Step 6

Solve the equation for $y$ .

Remove parentheses.

$y = \frac{1}{1}$

Divide $1$ by $1$ .

$y = 1$

Step 7

Substitute $2$ for $x$ and find the result for $y$ .

$y = \frac{1}{2}$

Step 8

Remove parentheses.

$y = \frac{1}{2}$

Step 9

This is a table of possible values to use when graphing the equation.

$\begin{array}{c} x & y \\ - 2 & - \frac{1}{2} \\ - 1 & - 1 \\ 1 & 1 \\ 2 & \frac{1}{2} \end{array}$

Step 10